The Gospel, Part One
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
3/25 Reading Portions: Exodus 36; John 15; Proverbs 12; Ephesians 5
Genesis 3:14-15
The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
JUDGMENT
Here in these two verses are what theologians call the “protoevangelium.” It is a Greek term for the first pronouncement of the gospel and the promise of a Savior. One of things we should note is that following the confessions of the man and the woman who have sinned, the first curse pronounced by YHVH God is given to the serpent; that is, to Satan. Certainly, there are consequences for the sins of the man and the woman (Gen 3:16-19), yet we would have no redemption without the judgment of Satan. Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), and to those who do not follow Christ, whether they acknowledge Satan or not, they are his subjects.
The truth of Christ’s righteous life and substitutionary atoning death is so powerful, so complete, so supreme, and such a foregone conclusion that even the promise of His coming crucifixion (He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel), is powerful enough to redeem Old Testament sinners by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9), trusting in the promise of the Messiah to come.
Tomorrow, we’ll consider the curses upon Satan from Genesis 3:14. I pray that it may be encouragement to you when you see “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9), has already been cursed through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Messiah—weakened, when we are so mightily armed with Christ Jesus (Eph 6:10-18). Hallelujah! What a Savior!